Charles Bradlaugh

Charles Bradlaugh (1833-1891)

One of the most controversial public figures of
the late nineteenth century. Charles Bradlaugh championed
unpopular causes like birth control,
republicanism, atheism, reform, peace and anti-imperialism. His views placed him
in conflict with powerful interests, institutions and people, but most of his
arguments have since been vindicated.

In 1876 he established the Freethought Publishing Company
and released an edition of Charles Knowlton's pamphlet The Fruits of Philosophy, a work advocating
birth control. Bradlaugh was convicted for publishing an obscene publication but
in 1878 the case was dismissed on a technicality.

Between 1880 and 1886 Bradlaugh fought for
the right of
unbelievers to sit in the House of Commons, and he was the
first atheist to become an MP. His Act of 1888
established the
legal right to affirm the Parliamentary oath rather than
swearing the oath on a bible. Bradlaugh was MP for
Northampton between 1880-1891 (although he was only permitted
to take his seat in the House of Commons from January 1886) and was
unofficially known as the MP for India due to
his sympathetic support for Indian self-government. He is buried in a family
grave in plot 108.

To find out more about Charles Bradlaugh,
click
here, whilst volume 1 issue 2 of Necropolis News includes an article on his
life.